Longmont Library is throwing a party, and everyone's invited

Lan Ding reads with her daughter, Rebecca Tang, 6, at the Longmont Public Library on Monday, April 1, 2013.
(Greg Lindstrom/Times-Call)

From bottom left, Longmont Writers Club members John Hinman, Kathie Craun, Belle Schmidt, Bill Ellis, Mary Kathleen Rose and Angela Elliott share a laugh as Rose reads from the club's 2009 anthology at Hinman's home in Longmont.
(Mark Collins/For the Times-Call)

Bill Ellis grew up in the small town of Martinsville, Va., and the local library had one room.

Now Ellis lives in Longmont, where the local library has numerous rooms spread out over two floors. Books are just the beginning of the resources it contains. It has music, videos, periodicals, online computer stations, book discussion groups, a concert series, children's programs and many other offerings.

2-3:30 p.m., Sunday, April 14: Karla Oceanak and Kendra Spanjer, the author and illustrator of the "Aldo Zelnick" comic novels, lead a hands-on workshop and book signing designed for school-age children; registration required at the Children's and Teen Reference Desk

7-8 p.m., Thursday, April 18: "On Writing," a writing workshop led by local author Bill Ellis

1-3 p.m., Saturday, April 20: "Colorado Authors Open House," featuring local authors who will greet visitors and sign books

Ellis calculated that the total cost to buy the books he has borrowed from the library during the 10 years he has been going there would have been $26,000.

No wonder he's among those who view the library as a vast source of community enrichment.

t-a-barron-outside-headshot.jpg Longmont Public Library, Courtesy photo. Boulder author T.A. Barron plans to appear for an author talk and book signing as part of the 2013 Longmont Library Festival.
(Longmont Public Library/courtesy photo)

When the library presents its second annual Library Festival from Sunday through April 20, Ellis will be helping to contribute to that enrichment.

Ellis, the author of novels and opinion pieces that appear in the Times-Call and a longtime member of the Longmont Writers Club, is scheduled to lead a writing workshop as part of the festival on Thursday, April 18. The workshop is one of many events hosted by the library during the festival.

"It's to celebrate the library and enjoying the library as a community resource," said Barbara Kundanis, a library spokeswoman.

The community's response to the festival last year prompted organizers to write a second chapter for 2013.

"People came out and seemed to enjoy it and we got positive feedback," Kundanis said.

The festival this year will include several new features, notably a "Fiesta!" to kick things off. The event, planned for 2-4 p.m., Sunday, will include Latin dance, art and refreshments. Another new feature is the "Poetry Slam," featuring the Denver-based Minor Disturbance poetry organization. The poetry slam is planned for 7-9 p.m., Monday, April 15.

A highlight of the festival will be several author appearances.

Boulder author T.A. Barron, known for his "Merlin" series of novels, is scheduled to visit the library for a talk and book signing on the evening of April 11. Colorado photographer and author John Fielder plans to lead a talk and slideshow on Wednesday, April 17.

Fielder visited Longmont late last year to take part in a special concert by the Longmont Symphony Orchestra, which performed as his landscape photographs were projected on screens, and to present a series of his photographs in an exhibition at downtown's Muse Gallery.

Ellis is leading a writing workshop, but he doesn't "teach" writing, he says. It's more akin to encouraging a participant to write and helping that person to improve through positive feedback. He'll also sell his books and donate a third of the proceeds back to the library.

Another book that will be available during the festival is "You Belong 2013," an anthology of selected short works by Longmont-area authors and artists. It's one more book the library will be able to offer as part of its huge collection of works.

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